EIAC: Catching up on New Music

I spent some quality time catching up on the stack of promos on my desk. Here goes....

Artist: The Little Ones
Album: Morning Tide
Recommended if you like: indie pop a la Shins and early R.E.M.
From the press kit:
a collection of songs that take the word “pop” in “pop music” literally, bursting with effervescence and joy. - NME
Standout Tracks: “All Your Modern Boxes”, “Everybody’s Up To Something”
Worth a second listen?:
This album was upbeat and an easy listen. I did think the comparison to the Shins and early R.E.M. was pretty spot on.
More info: Official/myspace
Listen: “Morning Tide”



Artist: The Panics
Album: Cruel Guards
Recommended if you like: The Church, Nick Cave
From the press kit:
Despite what their name might suggest, Australian indie rockers, The Panics, don’t evoke a sense of chaos or hysteria.  In fact, they offer the exact opposite: interweaving melodies and atmospheres over landscapes of rousing instrumentation.
Standout Tracks: “Get Us Home","Don’t Fight It”
Worth a second listen?:
I liked this right away - it reminded me a lot of those other Aussies - Crowded House.
More info: myspace/official.
Listen: “Get Us Home”



Artist: Rachael Yamagata
Album: A Record in Two Parts: Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart
Recommended if you like: triple a radio darlings, singer songwriter chicks, artists on the Hotel Cafe tour
From the press kit:
The CD, as its title suggests, contains two parts. The first, Elephants, is the darker and more vulnerable of the two. It plays like a film score, with orchestral transitions that expand as the songs progress. The more guitar-driven Teeth Sinking Into Heart is grittier and more defiantly cynical. Underscored by Rachael’s husky alto and expressive piano (and now guitar) playing, the two parts, when taken together, present a snapshot of the emotions that revolve around heartbreak and the inevitable challenges of relationships.
Standout Tracks: “Little Life”, “Faster”
Worth a second listen?:
The first part reminded me a lot of Cat Power. It is dark and brooding and is best left for listening when you’re not in a bad space. The second part does get edgy and is more my speed.
More info: official/myspace
Listen: “Elephants” (qt stream)/“Sidedish Friend”(qt stream)